Thank you, Dr. Lavin

“I’ve been blessed with a profession that I love and that loves me back.” – Dr. John Lavin

After practicing medicine for nearly 39 years and delivering upwards of 3,800 babies, Dr. John Lavin is preparing to hang up his stethoscope at the end of April.  His parents always told him, “if you love what you do, you’ll be good at it”.

It might be surprising to learn that young John did not initially set out to be a doctor.  What he wanted to be was a Catholic priest, and he attended one year at seminary school.  He transferred to the University of Nevada, and set his course toward the medical profession instead, graduating in 1981.  He did his family practice residency through the University of Colorado in Denver and then set up a solo private family practice in Powell, WY, in 1984.  His friend, Dr. Stan Malnar encouraged him to move to Kalispell and join him, which he finally did in 1986.

As much as he enjoyed his family practice, he soon discovered that delivering babies was the favorite part of his job, and back to the University of Colorado he went.  He graduated from the OB-Gyn Residency from the University of Colorado in 1992.  He moved back to Kalispell and was in solo practice. He worked with Dr. Charles Ludden until 2004 and then he joined Dr. Kathleen Nelson and Dr. Gwenda Jonas at Kalispell OB-Gyn.

In that time, Dr. Lavin delivered almost 100 babies per year.  In his earlier years, he guesses that about half were born at night, but with many of today’s moms opting for induction, most are born during the day now.  In all that time, only three babies were born on the way to the hospital.  Twenty-four (24) more recent births were second-generation babies born to the grown-up infants he delivered years ago.  Every single healthy child born into his hands has felt like one of the most rewarding things he has ever done.  Such a rush – every single time!

His primary specialty has been obstetrics.  He also practices gynecology.  His patients range in age from teens, through motherhood, to middle age, and menopause.  He’s witnessed some positive changes in the medical field throughout his career.  There are more women in the field of medicine than ever before, and the sheer development of technology that has evolved has been mind-boggling.

Dr. Lavin was born at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas where his dad was in the Army.  Every three years or so, his dad was promoted as a Forest Service Supervisor taking, the family to Wyoming, Nevada and Idaho.

In 1974, during one of his college physics classes he met a young lady named Anita, and by his own admission, it was love at first sight.  They were married in 1978 and have seven children ranging in age from 38 to 15yrs old.  Dr. Lavin shared, by the very nature of his job, he was a somewhat absent parent.  Anita did the majority of work in the family while working part-time as a physical therapist.

Besides the impact he has had on the lives of each infant and parent he has been privileged to work with, Dr. Lavin has also been active in the community.  His family are members of Risen Christ Parish, he has been involved with Daybreak Rotary, and he’s been the consulting physician for the Hope Pregnancy Center.

When asked who has supported, inspired and mentored him, Dr. Lavin responded: 

• Jesus taught me not to live in fear and to have courage.  Anita taught me how to be patient, kind and loving.
• All the nurses who educated him on how to be a doctor.
• His partners at Kalispell Ob-Gyn are the best team of doctors with whom he has ever had the privilege to work alongside.

Dr. Lavin is only one-fifth of the equation at Kalispell Ob-Gyn.  He’s had the privilege to work with a great team of doctors, Dr. Kathleen Nelson, Dr. Gwenda Jonas, Dr. Thomas deHoop and Dr. Jenna Huff.  He is confident that the staff at Kalispell Ob-Gyn will continue taking the time to really listen to their patients and provide the best care.

What will he do now that he will be retired?  Well, work of course!  He plans to work part-time training new physicians how to deliver babies in the residency program at Kalispell Regional Healthcare.  He and his wife, Anita, have plans to travel to Peru and see Machu Picchu.  He would like to learn to fish; perhaps his grandchildren can teach him.  Spending time with family is most important in his upcoming retirement.

As for advice for grandparents, Dr. Lavin learned from a grandmother, “your children are your best investment, grandchildren are the dividends!”  Advice for young parents, “a whole universe of happiness awaits you!”